New website to deliver reconnection support to homeless

A website set up to provide guidance to British organisations helping destitute rough sleepers to return home has been updated and expanded to feature key information on homeless services across the European Union.

The Routes Home website, developed by homelessness charity Thames Reach, now includes information about homeless services in France, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Holland and Greece. The navigational structure has also been improved to make it easier for people to use the site.Routes Home contains advice for those supporting individuals who want to return to family and support services in their home country, and includes a guide to consular services and information about organisations providing support across the European Union.

The website builds on the experience of Thames Reach’s London Reconnection Project which has helped over 2300 vulnerable homeless European Union nationals to return to their home countries since the service was designed and piloted by Thames Reach in January 2009.

Routes Home was commissioned by the Mayor of London and launched in 2010.

“Since 2009 Thames Reach has been at the forefront of delivering reconnection support services and the Routes Home site mirrors our unrivalled knowledge, contacts and expertise. The site contains practical guidance based on our daily work, and I’m delighted that the site is being accessed by other agencies to ensure we help marginalised EU rough sleepers across the country.”